Improvement in butter-pail fastenings



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

CHARLES D. WESTLAKE, OF ADDISON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTER-PAIL FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,338, dated April 15, 1879; application filed February 7, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES D. WEsT- LAKE, of Addison, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butter-Pail Fastenings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a butter-pail having fastenings constructed according to my improvement, with parts broken away and shown in section; Fig. 2, a back view of the locking part of the fastening detached from the pail; Fig. 3, a section of the same through the line .70 w,- and Fig. 4, a face view of a plate forming another portion of the fastening, also detached.

This invention relates to fastenin gs for packages for various commodities, but more particularly for use on return butter-pails.

It consists in the combination of certain devices, hereinafter further described, by which the top is securely closed or readily opened and thrown back, so that it may be used as a table or shelf on which to display part of the contents, or be easily and entirely removed at will.

In the drawings, A represents a pail having at one side a slotted plate, B, with projecting ears 0, between which is cast or otherwise secured a round pin, D. To the lid or cover of the pail is secured an angle-piece, E, having on its lower end a hook, F, which passes around the pin D, as shown.

On the opposite side of the lid is another angle-piece, G, which diifers from the firstmentioned angle-piece in the lower end being formed into a point and having a rounded projection on its outer face at a. Below this, on the body of the pail, is secured a plate, H, having a recess, I, formed in it, in which is secured a spring-loop, J, having its top of such form as to closely fit over the top of-the projection a on the angle-piece. This loop has its ends bent at right angles, which are inserted in holes in the sides of the recess in plate H, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, by holding the loop at right angles to its normal position and springing the hooks into the holes, after which the loop is changed, so as to be parallel with the plate and rest in grooves formed in the projections j, by which means the loop is firmly secured in place when attached to the pail. The projection j also serves as a means of strengthening the spring.

The angle-pieces are provided with slots and screws, as shown in dotted lines, by which their position may be adjusted, for a purpose that will be hereinafter explained.

At opposite sides of the top and at equal distances between the fastenings are secured two angle-plates, represented by K, each of which overlaps the edge of the lid and body of the pail when the lid is closed, which will prevent sidewise motion of the cover, and serve to strengthen the pail when the cover is closed and fastened.

By the construction here shown avery strong and secure fastening is obtained, not liable to get out of order or be destroyed by the rough usage to which butter-pails and similar packages are subjected in transportation. It may be readily and securely closed and fastened, and as readily opened by inserting a nail, screw-driver, knife-point, or other pointed tool through one of the apertures c c, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and, by bearing on the spring, move it off the projection a, when the cover can be readily opened, or the opening device may be applied at the top of the spring.

By turning the lid back, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, the hook F can be lifted off the pin, and the cover thus removed. If it is not desired to remove the lid entirely, it may be left in the position shown by the dotted lines, the angle-piece E resting against a projection, d, formed on the. plate B, in which position it may be used to form a table or shelf on which to display a part of the contents of the pail in markets or stores.

By forming slots in the angle-pieces their position may be changed by slightly loosening the screws. This is sometimes necessary, be-

cause, in cleaning or soaking the pails, their diameter increases, and consequently the angle-pieces may no longer fit; but, by loosening the screws, their position can be adjusted as desired.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of the spring loop J, formed of a wire staple having its ends turned at right angles to the sides, in combination with the plate provided with the recess 1, in which said loop is nearly concealed, holes to receive the bent ends of the loop, and projee tions j, to hold and stiffen the staple to make it act as a spring-loop, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the plate B, provided with the projection (I, ears (I C, and pin 1), with the anglepieee I), having the hook I".

CHAS. D. VESTLAKE.

Witnesses:

A. 13. ROBERTSON, T. J. W. RoBnR'rsoN. 

